Plymouth and Torbay have UK’s First European BlueSchools
When children go to a Connect Academy Trust school in Plymouth and Torbay, they get an amazing opportunity to learn about the ocean in our award-winning Ocean Conservation curriculum. And now, those schools have been recognised with Blue School status, the first in the UK to receive this award for their work on inspiring and educating children about the ocean.
All five of the primary schools in Plymouth belonging to Connect Academy Trust teach the new curriculum, and the three Torbay schools are just starting to teach it. The Blue Schools Award recognises the schools ’efforts to ‘bring the ocean into the classroom’.
This means that over 3,300 children have opportunities to study the ocean from age four right through to 11, not just in the classroom,but at the Aquarium, on the beach and on boat trips. As well as learning about our ocean in science, they study it in other subjects including English, art, geography and history in cross-curricular teaching units.
The Headteacher of each school received a special certificate, presented by Nicola Bridge of the Ocean Conservation Trust.‘You’re joining an international community of 205 schools around the world,about half of which are in the EU.’ Explained Stu Higgs of the OCT. ‘It’s a growing network of educators who care deeply about the ocean and who are finding ways to pass on that care to our children. It’s a wonderful achievement and we’re very proud to have been a part of your journey with the new curriculum, and to be awarding you with these certificates as the UK hub forBlue Schools.’
Mr Stuart Bellworthy, Chief Executive of Connect said, “We are delighted that, as well as giving children amazing learning opportunities,our Ocean Conservation Curriculum has resulted in our accreditation as European Blue Schools. It is fantastic to see our hard work being recognised as a first for the UK. I would like to thank all the research scientists at OCT, MBA and PML for their support in getting us to this point and for celebrating with us at our recent award ceremony.”
Gennadi Lessin, Senior Marine System Modeller at PlymouthMarine Laboratory, added ‘I have been involved in the design and development of the new curriculum from the beginning and it’s been a privilege to be here today to see Connect schools win Blue School status. PML has a duty to share our knowledge of marine life with the wider community and this is exactly the sort of project we want to be part of. We hope that other schools come forward to get involved and perhaps include the curriculum in their school lives too.’
Photo: credit Sam Jones, Jelly Images.
Heads of the 8 Connect schools are joined by Stu Higgs andNicola Bridge to celebrate Blue School status at the National Marine Aquarium